The Team

Founders

Mr. Atmore is a Co-Founder of the Rancho Ventura Conservation Trust with his wife Bonnie Atmore. An expert land management professional, environmental contractor and rancher, he has been continuously managing over 7,000 acres of rangeland in the Ventura Foothills in one capacity or another for over 24 years. He has managed a wide variety of habitat restoration, mitigation installation, non-native plant removal, fuel load reduction, and erosion control installation projects. He holds a California General Engineering Contractor’s License and a Qualified Applicator’s License from the Department of Pesticide Regulation. He works with the Ventura County Fire Protection District on large-scale fuel modification projects and is President of the Central Ventura County Fire Safe Council. He is a Director of the Ventura County Contractor’s Association, a member of the Ventura County Farm Bureau, the California Cattlemen’s Association, the California Invasive Plant Council, and the California Native Grasslands Association. Mr. Atmore received the 2011 Award for Excellence in Agricultural Stewardship and Sustainability from the Ventura County Resource Conservation District.

Bonnie Atmore Co-Founder of Rancho Ventura Conservation Trust is a third generation resident of Ventura County. Along with long with Richard Atmore, she helps to manage over 7,000 acres of land in the Ventura Foothills. It is her goal to preserve ranching and farming, enhance community education through youth programs, protect wildlife and habitat and make a treasured community resource.

Bonnie is an well known in the non-profit community bringing over 20 years of leadership, strategic management, leadership and fundraising experience to RVCT. She specializes in creating strategic partnerships and implementing innovative projects that improve social, economical and environmental well being of the community. Bonnie has been recognized for her outstanding work as a long time CEO & President of the Ventura County FOOD Share and Festival Manager for the California Strawberry Festival. In 2012 she was recognized by the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce as the Woman of the Year, San Fernando Valley Business Journal CEO of the Year IN 2016 and has been listed in the Pacific Coast Business Times Top 50 Women in Business for over 11 years. In 2016 she was is a Governor appointed Director & President of the 31st California Agricultural District, she is also a Trustee of the VC Coalition of Agriculture, Labor & Business Foundation.

Board Members

John Hecht

Board Member

Don Jensen

Board Member

Brad Haley

Board Member

Mark Hartley

Board Member

Content Contributors

Chris Ryan

Photographer

Chris Ryan discovered a hidden passion for photography during his first road trip across the Great West. What he refers to as his “Awakening”. He drove over 5,000 miles across several states capturing images from sunrise until sunset. Staying at various National and State parks scattered along the way. He set out to get lost in the great outdoors but never expected to find himself. It was an epic journey that produced some of his most lasting works. When not travelling Chris lives in Ventura County, CA. Capturing nearby Rancho Ventura Conservation Trust.

Mike Lydon

Outreach Coordinator

Mike serves as the Trust's jack-of-all-trades including corresponding with the public, website content writer, amateur historian, natural resources planner, cartographer and field naturalist at onsite events. Prior to RVCT he had interned with with several public agencies including the City of Carpinteria, City of Eureka and California Department of Fish & Wildlife. He holds a BA in Geography with emphasis in Natural Resources Planning from Humboldt State University. When not in the office Mike can be found hiking, fishing, kayaking or lounging on one of our beautiful local beaches.

Matthew Shuey

Webmaster

Hi There, I'm a freelance web design and digital marketing professional in Ventura California. I help the trust with website and tech issues on a freelance basis. Need digital marketing help? Use the links below to contact me. I specialize in Education, Events, Non Profits, and Start Ups.

Lexi Ballinger

Grant Writer

Alexcia (Lexi) Ballinger is a California native and has always been inspired by the state’s dynamic landscape. Although she has academic and professional experience with a variety of land types and management practices, she finds Ventura County to be especially unique and diverse. Lexi has a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with a concentration in Land Resource Management from CSU, Chico, and recently graduated with a Master of Agriculture degree from Colorado State University. In her spare time, one can find her getting creative in the kitchen, playing with her pooch, Max, and partaking in an array of outdoor activities.